Treatment of fluids with solid substances



April 8, 1930. T. 're GRAY TREATMENT OF, FLUIDS WITH SOLID SUBSTANCES Filed Jan. 18, 1926 @gaf Patented Apr. 3, 1930 THOMAS '.l.v GRAY, OF ELIZABETH,

NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR irs-asse aTENT OFFICE TO GRAY PROCESSES COR- i TREATMENT OF FLUIDS WITH SOLID SUBSTANCES Application filed January 18, 1926. Serial No. 82,114.

This invention relates to treatment of fluids with solid substances, more especially to treatment of petroleum products by contact with solid substances to effect desirable changes in the petroleum products.

An object of this invention is to bring solid substances in contact with fluid substances and at the same time prevent dispersion of the solid substances through the liquid substance; specifically, to treat luid petroleum productsN with solid adsorptive substances within the processing still.

This object is attained by supporting within the processing still a plurality of con; `15,-tainers charged with solid treating substances, said container being so constructed as to permit the ow'of the fluid substances through the solid substances in the containers but preventing passage of the solid substances zo from the containers.

tainers are metal baskets or bags formed from fine metal screen which are suspended in the still by trac-ks along which they-are movable and the still is provided with a manhole through which the containers are .run into and out of the still over temporary tracks provided for this purpose. The tracks may be arranged above or below the level of the liquid in the still, depending upon 3o whether it is desirable to bring the material in the still into contact with the solid substances-in vaporous or liquid condition. The solid substances within the containers depend upon the fluid to be treated 0r the type of treatment to which the iluid is to be subjected. The material in the different containers may be different or'may be the same, depending upon the type of treatment.

With this arrangement, the treating material is easily introduced or withdrawn from the still and different materials can be used at the Sametime and still beke t separate.

The treating materials used are ept out of contact with the still, thereby preventing t5 local overheating and contamination and are also prevented from being carriedoif with the discharge from the still.

treating materials have been immersed 1n the liquid treated, the containers will drain as the liquid is pumped from the still and can' Preferably, the conpermanent outside track, so that the baskets There the 1 be further rid of the treated liuid by introducing steam into the still after each run.

Other objects and. features of this invention will be apparent from the following specilication and accompanying y drawings wherein- Fig. 1 is a side elevation partially broken away of a still embodying the invention as adapted for treating liquids;

ig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to F ig. 1 embodying the invention as adapted for treating vapors; and

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, 10 is a still 'or other suitable holder for liquids having at one end a manhole closed by a cover 11. Along each side of the still is provided a set of supports 12 projecting downwardly into the still, their errds being connected by cross members 13. To the under surface of the cross members 13 are attached brackets 14 supporting rails 15 extending the length of the still and being in` alignment with the manhole. A. series of'baskets 17 are supported from the rails 15 above their centers of gravity by trunnions and sheave wheels 16 turning on the rails 15. 1

The baskets 17 preferably are built up of perforated metal plates having a lining of ine mesh wire cloth of suitable metal. The

vwire cloth prevents Aescape of the material from the baskets while the plates supply the strength necessary to support the material. The basket-s may be provided with suitable. covers which may be opened to allow the filling 0r emptying of the baskets. A removable section 15a of track is provided to connect the tracks or rails within the still with may be readily drawn out from the still to be dumped and recharged. The tracks 15 are arranged at such a level in the still that the baskets 17 are completely immersed within the liquid to be treated.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4, the tracks' 5 are supported by brackets 14 bolted to the top of the still and the manhole is arranged vnear the topin alignment with the tracks. The baskets 17 are 'similar to those disclosed 100 in Figs. 1 and 2. Plates 18 extend along the brackets and then downward at an angle slightl below the bottom line of the baskets. his arrangement is designed for use when it is desired to treat vapors emanating from a liquid contained in the lower part of the still, theplates 18 serving to orce the vapor into contact with the baskets before it can escape through the dome 19.

While this arrangement is adapted for the treatment of any desired fluid with any desired solid substance, it is particularly adapted for treating petroleum products for-the removal of any ldesired material, such, for example, as sulphur. The solid substances contained within the baskets may be adsorptive or metallized adsorptive materials such as silicious substances, .tullers earth, bauxite or copperized fullers earth. Other solids having an aiiinit for sulphur may be used such as iron, lea zinc, manganese or their salts and bases, either alone or mixed 'with the clays. Also finely divided copper, nickel, iron or other metals, their oxides or bases, as Well as lime, caustic, alkalies, etc., may con stitute the charge in the baskets depending upon the treatment to which it is desired to subject the petroleum roducts.

lt is of course un erstood that changes may be made in the structure of the apparatus above'described and that the apparatus may be used in connection with substances other than those above enumerated Without in any Way departing from the spirit o' the invention as set forth in the appended claims. What lt claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. Ilhe process of reiining hydrocarbon liquid which comprises heating a bodjfoi such liquid, suspending 'Within said body-of liquid and in contact therewith a plurality of treatu ing agents solid at the reiining. temperature, and "confining each treating1 agent Withina limited space thereby e'ecting" separation 01" the different agents and preventing disperu sion thereof in the liquid.

2. The process of refining hydrocarbon oil which comprises distilling the same, contacting the oil with a plurality or treating agents solid at the distillation temperature and confining the treating agents Within separate limited spaces thereby preventing intermingling of the agents andthe dispersion thereof in the oil. l

ln testimony whereof, li have signed my name to this specification.

Till GRAY. 

